The AI-Product Name Wars

Picture this scene: A salesperson strides into the manager’s office...

Sound a little chaotic? That’s because we’re living in a world where everyone’s launching new AI products and naming them in ways that can make us sound (and feel) a bit…well, silly.

Products: Stella AI: Stella, PureCars: RylieAI, Dealer eProcess: Sherpa AI, RunBuggy: RunBot, AutoVision: Avery

NADA Buzz: All About AI

With NADA (weather permitting) finally here, it’s no surprise that AI is dominating conversation. In the lead-up to the event, “AI” was mentioned 10x more frequently than “CDP.” From booths on the expo floor to webinars and press releases, the new wave of technology is brimming with AI capabilities.

For vendors, this hype presents a once-in-a-decade opportunity to stake a claim in the new frontier, complete with new product names and fresh branding. But it’s also a crowded playing field. Everyone wants to stand out with an AI-powered offering. The trouble is, we all know that eventually AI will become as commonplace as email. No one touts themselves as “an Email-based company,” or uses companyname.email as their URL nowadays. The same will happen to AI before we know it.

So how do vendors differentiate themselves without sounding like they’ve swallowed a dictionary of buzzwords, and how do dealers cut through the marketing noise to figure out what works?

For Vendors: Show, Don’t Just Tell

1. Before-and-After Comparisons
   Don’t just say you “have AI.” Show the difference. Demonstrate how a task was done previously versus how AI now optimizes or automates it.

2. Demo the “How”
   Provide deeper dives into how your AI models work, what data they require, and which specific problems they solve. If a dealer doesn’t have the prerequisites, such as the data, be transparent about what that means for results.

3. Add Transparency In-App
   Offer explainers or “How We Derived This Insight” tooltips. Mini-dashboards that break down AI recommendations go a long way toward building trust (and busting “black box” myths).

4. Publish Research & Benchmarks
   Bring proof. If your AI claims to improve lead conversions by 15% or reduce sales cycle time by 20%, show the stats or user case studies. Dealers want proof that your tech works in their world.

 For Dealers: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

1. Ask About Their AI Stack
   Which AI-as-a-service (AIaaS) providers are they leveraging (AWS, Azure, OpenAI)? Every platform has strengths and weaknesses, if your vendor’s provider runs into downtime or changes pricing, it could impact your dealership.

2. Demand Clarity on “AI”
   Is it just rules-based automation disguised as AI, or is it truly machine learning that adapts over time? Press for real examples of how it works and evidence of ROI.

3. Plan for the Inevitable Switch
   If the product brand is “Ava” this week and “AvaAI” next week, or if the entire platform rebrands six months from now, make sure you still understand what it does. The name might change, but your dealership’s needs won’t.

Embracing the AI Frontier…Without Losing Your Mind

Yes, it’s chaotic out there. Just ask the manager juggling these new services not to mention actual customers. But if vendors commit to transparency and deliver actual value, and if dealers ask the right questions, the hype can translate into real opportunities. The brand names might shift as fast as the AI ecosystem itself, but in the short term, clear demos, real data, and genuine ROI will cut through the noise.

When it’s all said and done, we won’t refer to ourselves as “AI-based dealerships.” We’ll just look back on these days as the start of a new normal, where advanced technology simply is part of the dealership DNA. Until then, let’s keep our eyes on the results, not just the names. And if you see a brand-new AI-driven assistant with a cool name, just remember it’s what’s under the hood that really counts.